Category — Music

Tuesday was a jazzy kind of night! As you all know we had the wonderful opportunity of seeing some of Julliard’s finest perform in a jazz quartet. Prior to the event I had listened to jazz with some of my friends and thought it was a pretty cool genre. However, I felt that it sometimes gets a bit repetitive after a while. I was also a little apprehensive about the event because I wondered how we could just sit there listening to music for two whole hours without any lyrics, dance moves, or story. Needless to say, my apprehension was somewhat nullified upon seeing the show. I actually found it much more interesting to watch the performers play the music rather than listening to it on a CD. Their stage dynamic was very interesting and held my attention. Ron Blake, the saxophonist, was especially fun to watch when he performed. He was very expressive and even did a few “dance moves” as he played. I also didn’t expect one of the musicians there to be a sort of “MC,” but Carl Allen, the drummer, was very interactive and added a more casual and somewhat comedic aspect to the performance. One thing that we discussed in class that I wish I had known before seeing the show is that much of the music in jazz performances is improvised. I would have probably appreciated the show much more if I had known that the musicians were playing “off the cuff.” Hearing this piece of information did make me further appreciate Carl Allen’s drum solos, however. He is an extremely talented musician, and the way he played the drums that night blew my mind. My two favorite songs on the set list are Ah, Rio and Nutty. The music in Ah, Rio really captured the feeling of being relaxed and on vacation on a beautiful tropical beach, and the musical arrangements in Nutty seemed to be extremely intricate and unconventional. One last thing I would like to mention is the love that the musicians showed for the audience. I could really tell that they fully appreciated just us being there to hear them play, and there humble gratitude added to my already extreme respect for them.

I’ve always really liked jazz, so I was excited to see the Juilliard faculty play. Most of my jazz experience previously consisted of Duke Ellington, Chet Baker, Lady Ella, Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, etc. It was completely different, though, seeing live jazz rather than just watching video clips. There’s a certain spirit in the room when a jazz quartet is playing; they’re interacting with each other and really digging it. It’s visible on their faces, in their mannerisms and in their movements. Seeing their interactions and chemistry is, to me, a great part of the jazz experience. It’s almost like a friendly competition; they fight for solos and try to out-do each other, but it’s all in good fun. My favorite piece was probably “Ah, Rio.” The Brasilian twist to American jazz was refreshing as well as intriguing. It reminded me of “Girl From Ipanema,” a song with similar percussion and general feel. I think blending cultures is something more musicians should do, and I think this quartet did it really well. The rest of the set list was awesome too. I also thought the musicians were really engaging and heartfelt. It was so sweet for the drummer to memorialize his lost companions through the ballad; it was clear that the bond forged through music is nearly unbreakable.

This experience made me want to learn sax and play jazz. Seriously, I am trying to find someone to teach me. To be able to have the kind of connection I saw on Tuesday with someone would be so cool. This was a really inspiring event. I hope to go to some jazz clubs in the future  😀

I think to say that I enjoyed my time at the Juilliard Jazz Quartet concert is an understatement! The venue itself was in and of itself spectacular, but the music made the evening all the better. The Jazz music genre is one I still know very little about, but I noticed that as the musicians worked their magic, understanding the moods and the sentiments being conveyed through the notes was a more relaxing and joyful exercise than one might assume.

Frank Kimbrough’s composition entitled “Kudzu” captured my attention. While listening, I did a bit of double tasking; I kept my body jiving to the nifty beat, but I kept my mind searching for how exactly to describe the sounds. I then remembered the Austin Powers movies and thought of the catch phrase “Groovy, baby!” I was so moved by the song, but my eyes did not water, nor did my lips quiver. It was as though the song had transported me to a time and place where life was just “groovy” and the urge to bogey and do the shuffle was insatiable. I loved this!

All the other songs were amazing in their own ways, and I will admit that I was both thrilled and overwhelmed by the ballad titled “Waltz for Gwen”; it moved me in ways I never though jazz could.

The song “Ah, Rio” also struck me. As we can all tell, the weather outside it cooling down, and so such a warm and inviting song was pleasing to me; the reassurance that music that – in addition to a snuggly sweater – music can warm the soul is a great comfort.

I had an amazing time on Tuesday evening. A night with good music and even better friends is something never to pass up. So this winter, as I hunker down and stay warm, I’ll know that my jazz playlists are there to stay.

I’m not sure if we were supposed to post about yesterday, but here it goes. To be completely honest, I didn’t expect to like jazz and therefore I already had a disliking towards jazz despite hearing it. As I was walking into the Julliard School, I was thinking of everything else I could of been doing, of anything but this. When I sat down and started hearing all the different songs, however, I must say it wasn’t what I had expected. The music seemed to come together but at the same time you could distinguish the different types of instrument sounds.I didn’t even realize that their music had developed from stories out of their own lives until Frank Kimbrough was discussing the story behind “Little Jordan.” Just like artists draw inspiration from their own lives, musicians draw, or play if you will, inspiration from their own lives. In reality, art and music are not so different; they are two ways to express yourself(like two sides of the same coin) and it is up to us to translate that based o our own views. Music simply makes us “hear” rather than “see” what the artist/musician is trying to portray. This was definitely an opportunity that I would not have experienced without Macaulay Honors and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

Waiting outside for the jazz concert to begin I was excited for the unknown. I’ve never really listened to jazz music and it didn’t have any significance in my life.

When the performance started I liked the upbeat music. It was catchy and I found myself bobbing my head along to the tune. However, as the performance went on, I realized it was taking a slow, downbeat turn. The tunes were very mellow – like something I would listen to to put me to sleep. It was very soothing to listen to.
Before listening to the jazz music, if you asked me to describe jazz in one word I would say saxophone. So naturally I expected to be hearing a lot of the sax. But that wasn’t the case. Most of the time it was only the piano, base and drums playing. That was a little surprising to me, but when the saxophone started up, the music became very upbeat.
The musicians looked like they were so into the music, moving their bodies and tapping their feet along to the beat.
The drummer was amazing. I was in awe at the things he was doing.
Although jazz may not be my type of music, it was really an experience that I probably would have never had if not for the Macaulay program. Overall, I really enjoyed the night.